I do everything by machine unless there`s a functional reason for doing it by hand. And the only real functional reason I`ve found is that I can apply products like KSG thinner by hand. Other than that, polishes, cleaners, even paste waxes (other than Souveran), I use a machine. Just no way *I* can duplicate the results of however-many-orbits-per-minute by hand. Heh heh, I probably enjoy using the Cyclo a lot more than I like doing *anything* by hand anyhow, with the possible exception of caressing the XJS when using Souveran on it.